Struggling surgeries reveal plans to merge and create medical centre

The surgeries are seeking funding for the new centre via the government's Primary Care Infrastructure Fund.

The proposals have been put forward by Parkhouse Surgery, Pages Lane Surgery and Sundial Lane Surgery.

It is thought that the new, combined surgery will allow doctors to provide more appointments, as well as extended opening hours, and additional health services to meet the needs of their patients.

Senior partner at Parkhouse Surgery, Dr Pri Hallan, said: "This is a tremendously exciting project for Great Barr – an area that traditionally hasn't had the same investment in healthcare facilities as other parts of Sandwell.

"The other partners and I have worked hard to deliver this project for our patients, who we feel deserve the best possible facilities.

"This project will allow us to meet their needs, in a fit-for-purpose building, for decades to come.

"We have a well-developed vision for how the best healthcare can be provided, and would like to provide services which bring care closer to our patients, particularly the elderly, who represent a significant proportion of our list.

"We are also excited about the opportunity to work more closely with our healthcare colleagues and commissioners to support the NHS in delivering an efficient and integrated service that provides the very best care for all patients and avoids unnecessary admissions.

"We are very hopeful that we will be able to make this ambitious, and much needed, project a reality."

The practices currently serve the community from three separate buildings, which Dr Hallan said are no longer fit for purpose, especially with the growing number of vulnerable patients in the area.

The Primary Care Infrastructure Fund is intended to support projects which help increase capacity in primary care and support GPs to reduce unnecessary admissions, in particular reducing the number of elderly people who find themselves in hospital.

No site has been chosen to house the new building and a total project cost has not been announced, however the MP for West Bromwich East, Tom Watson, has thrown his weight behind the proposals.

Mr Watson said: "There has been a clear and urgent need for a new medical practice in Great Barr for many years. We have a growing elderly population in this area, who would greatly benefit from the new proposed state of the art medical practice.

"For too long, residents in Great Barr have been ignored by successive NHS bodies, who could provide the capital funding to make this project a reality.

"I hope Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England will look favourably upon this excellent proposal."

A spokesperson for Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG said: "Our priority is around projects that are part of the Right Care Right Here programme and, while this is not one of those, we encourage all developments in primary care estate. Ultimately, the decision rests with NHS England as to which projects gain funding."